Fluid receiving means

ABSTRACT

An improved fluid receiving structure or trap for use with a self-processing photographic film unit or the like. The trap is best adapted for use in composite or integral film units in which it is permanently locatable entirely within the borders of the unit, making unnecessary its separation from the unit after processing. The trap comprises an inflatable bladder constrained by a substantially non-crushable framing structure.

United States Patent [1 1 Harvey 11 3,751,256 Aug. 7, 1973 221 Filed:

I FLUID RECEIVING MEANS [75] inventor: Donald M. Harvey, Webster, NY.

[73] Assigneez Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, NY.

Sept. 7, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 178,046

52 us; Cl. 96/76 c, 95/13 [5i] Int. Cl G03c 1/48 [58] Field (ti Search96/29, 76; 95/13 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS ll/l97lChen 96/76 R 3,652,282 3/1972 -Land...'.. 96/76 C 3,6l9,l93 l'l/l97l"Knight]. 96/76 R 3,652,28l 3/1972 Bachelder 96/76 C 3,672,272 6/1972Cole 96/76 C 9/1971 Chen 96/76 C Primary Examiner-Norman G. TorchinAssistant Examiner-John L. Goodrow Attorney-William T. French et al.

[57] ABSTRACT An improved fluid receiving structure or trap for use witha self-processing photographic film unit or the like. The trap is bestadapted for use in composite or integral film units in which it ispermanently locatable entirely within the borders of the unit, makingunnecessary its separation from the unit after processing. The trapcomprises an inflatable bladder constrained by a substantiallynon-crushable framing structure.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 2 .PAIENIEU suiznurz DONALD M. HARVEYATTORNEY Pmmwm 1w SHEEI 2 0f 2 DONALD M. HARVEY INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY fluid spreadwithin or across film units and photographicassemblages of the self-processing 2. Description of the :Prior Art 1 itis well known in the photographic arts to provide film units andphotographic assemblages incorporating the necessary materials forprocessingjthe units immediately after their exposure to producepositive photographic prints. Generally, such film units comprise a vphotosensitive element having a support layer for supcollecting andretaining the excess fluid at the end of the film unit opposite the podend.

Previous collectors for excess processing fluid, generally referredjtoas fluid'traps" and disclosed, for example, in U.S. PatsNos. 2,644,755and 2,686,717, have been provided on extended or end portions of thefllmunits as illustrated injUJS. Pat. No. 3,080,805. Continu- -ous emphasishas been placed on reducing the size of the film units to permit theiruse in more compact cameras, and on eliminating most, strippingoperations and "waste materials remaining after processing. Theseefforts have met with only limited success, however, due

' inpart to the fact that l) the processing fluid is highly porting atleast one layer of photosensitive material,

and an image receiving element adapted to be registion or fluid isreleased from'a rupturable pod for distribution between thephotosensitive and image-receiving elements, by passing the unit betweenopposed pres sure-applying members such as a pair of .parallel rollersspring loaded for rolling engagem'ent with the film unit. The rollersideally effect an even distribution of the fluid in a layer ofpredetermined thickness and without excess. The processing fluidpermeates the layers of the unit to effect or initiate development ofeach of the exposed photosensitive layers containedth erein. Animagewise distribution ofdiffusible dye or silver then diffuses or isformed on an image-receiving layerin the receiving element which isthenstripped from the film unit to provide a positive print. I

Film units of a preferred type and with which the ferred to as.preregistered. or integral' units. lnsuch units, a photosensitive sheetand a transparent process side" of the film unit; and the processingfluid includes an opacifying agent that covers'the .top side of the.photosensitive element after the pod'is ruptured and cooperates with theopaque bottom side" after exposure to permit processing ofthe film' unitin daylight; The im-- tered over the photosensitive elementinface-to-face relation after exposure. A viscous processing composi--caustic, and hence must be completely enclosed to prevent damage to theapparatus and injury to its user, and (2) a significant amount of excessfluid has to be used to assure complete processing. In addition, theparticular properties and configuration of the preferred composite filmunit mentioned above further aggravates fluid trapping problems. By wayof example, only, the fact that the film unit remains, intactafterprocessing, and'only a relatively narrow margin is provided aroundpictures of thistype, the use. of built-intraps of the rela+tively-large size usable .with other types of units is prevented. Inorder to overcome somev of these disadvantages and'problems of priorfilm units, u.S. Pat. Nos. 2,644,755 and 2,686,717 teach film units inwhich the trailing-portions of the respective sheet elementsmay have oneor more spacing elements or lifters made of some rigid material, e.g.hard rubber,;plastic, etc., se-

a cured to the surface adjacent the trailing end of one of presentinvention will be described, generally are reage-receiving layer may belocated either on the process sheet on the side closest to thephotosensitive sheet, or preferably on the bottom side of thephotosensitive sheet between an opaque layer and a transparent support.a

the sheet elements. As the'trailing portions of the sheet elements aredrawn between the pressure-applying members insuperposed relation duringthe distribution of the processing fluid, the spacing elements, orlifters force the pressure-applying membersapart. The excess processingfluid, rather than being further advanced, is thus. collected andretained in the space formed between the superposedportions of the sheetelements. In an effort to further reduce the size of the trap required;with film units designed for use in film packs, U.S. Pat.

No. 3,294,538 suggests forming a positive .trap by folding the end ofthe receiver sheet upon'its'elf and inter-- posing a spring memberbetween the folded-over end of the sheet element and the photosensitiveelement to maintain the two separated so thatthe excess fluidcan readilyenter the trap. As will be appreciated from the above description, theheretofore. proposed excess trapping means have required the attachmentof lifters and/orsprings to the unit. Such construction notonlycomplicates the fabrication and' handling of a film product in a camera,but it has been found that these in order to insure that a predeterminedexposed area of the film unit to be processed is completely covered by aprocessing fluid layer of uniform thickness, it is generally ncessary tosupply the container with a quantity1of the: processing fluidin excessof the minimum amount required. This practice is dictated by theinability'to obtain the ideal uniform spreading conditions referred toabove. Since the processing fluid'is highly caustic, any undesiredescape of excessf'fluid' from'the film unit within and also outside ofthe camera apparatus in which the unit is used, may be detrimental tothe camera and user. Accordingly, means are providedfor can shiftfrorhtheir intended position and even moveup into the image area of theelements and prevent lifters have a tendency to become accidentlydetached from the sheet element during the handling of the film unitoutside of the camera or during manipulation.

within the camera. If the lifter has become detached before the filmproduct is processed, then they are not come detached from their sheetelement for any reason during the manipulation of the film in thecamera, they proper transfer of the image from the photosensitive sheetto the image-receiving sheet. In order to over- I come the disadvantagesof the fluid traps heretofore. mentioned, copending U.S." Patentapplications, Ser.

No. 841,865 by David A. Frost et al. and Ser. No. 104,713 by Stanley R.Schieven disclose trap constructions in which the trailing end of one orboth of the sheet elements is provided with a plurality of protuberancesembossed from its surface to separate the pressure-applying members andprovide a space between the sheet elements for receiving excessprocessing fluid. Although such trap constructions are effective fortheir intended purpose, the trap construction of this inventionaccomplishes the same objectives, and results in still'furtheradvantages, by utilizing a new approach involving an .expandable,pliable bladder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention includes within its scope animproved fluid receiving structure or trap preferably for use in a filmunit for collecting any excess processing composition or fluid that isspread between andacross superposed photosensitive and process sheets.In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an integralfilm unit comprising a photosensitive sheet, a rupturable container orpod, and a process sheet in superposed face-to-face relation with thephotosensitive sheet is provided with an excess fluid trap that may beconcealed within the borders of the unit. The trap comprises aninflatable bladder constrained by a substantially non-crushable framingor exoskeletal structure. In accordance with one aspect of theinvention, the bladder can extend across registering ends of thephotosensitive and process sheets with the mouth of the bladder'in fluidcommunication with the space between the interfaces of the sheets. Inaccordance with another aspect of the invention, the bladder can beinterposed between a sandwich of the photosensitive and process sheetsadjacent one of the ends thereof, and such ends can be provided withcut-out portions or openings in register with the bladder to provideroom for expansion of the bladder between the sheets. To provideadditional room for bladder expansion, a spacer element provided withperforations or openings therethrough can be secured to one or both ofthe sides of the sandwich of photosensitive and process sheets inregister with the bladder. To prevent the possible escape of processingfluid from the bladder which may damage the camera and/or injure theuser, and to provide a writing surface on the film unit for recordingdata, the bladder end of the film unit can be enclosed within a somewhatstiff, crush resistant, elongated shell or exoskeletal structure ofU-shaped cross section. The bladder and shell can be provided withsuitable air vents, preferably out of alignment for permitting theescape of air from the bladder and shell as the processing fluid isforced therein. The vent openings are of a size sufficient to permit theflow of air, but insufficient to permit the flow of viscous processingfluid. Although the trap is integral with the film unit in its preferredform, it should be readily understandable that it may be formed as, aunitary member and then releasably secured by any suitable means to thetrailing end of a film unit, and detachable therefrom after use.

It is therefore one ofthe primary objects of the presentinvention toprovide an improved fluid trap means for a film unit, comprising aflexible bladder constrained by a substantially crush resistant frame,for trapping or retaining any processing fluid which is in excess ofthat required to be spread between the elements for complete processing.I

Another object of the invention is, to provide a fluid trap means ofincreased capacity for collecting processing fluid ina film unitorthe'like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid trapmeansfor a film unit that is of a smaller size than prior known trapmeans, thereby reducing the overall size of film units whichin turnfacili tates the constructionof more compact camera apparatus for usingthe filmiunits.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid trapmeans for a photosensitive film unit that is of simple design andconstruction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, andeconomical to manufacture. i

The invention and its objects and advantages will become more apparentfrom the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presentedbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the detailed description of thepreferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photographic film unit in which afluid trap constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is embodied; I

FIG. 2 is a segmental exploded, perspective view of the fluid trap endof the film unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a segmental enlarged view in section taken through the fluidtrap of FIG. 1 prior to the processing operation;

FIG. 4 is a segmental enlarged view in section similar to FIG. 3 showingthe film unit passing between pressure-applying rollers of a camera forspreading the processing fluid and forcing excess fluid into theinflatable bladder of the fluid trap;

FIG. 5 is a segmental enlarged section view similar to FIG. 4 showingthe film unit after the processing operation has been completed in whichall of the excess processing fluid has been forced into the expandablebladder by the pressure-applying rollers, and the rollers are about tobe separated by the shell-like enclosure to prevent them from pressingupon the bladder and causing a backflow of the fluid therein; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of spacer element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Because photographic film unitsand assemblages are well known in the art, the present description willbe directed in particular to elements forming part of or cooperatingmore directly with the present invention. Camera, film units andphotographic assemblage elements not specifically shown or describedherein should be understood to be selectable from those known in theart. U.S.

With reference to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a fluidreceiving structure shown as a processing fluid trap 6 of this inventionis illustrated in connection with a film unit 8 and cooperatingcontainer or pod 10 containing a processing fluid 11. Elements of thefilm unit are illustrated and described more completely in copendingU.S. Patent application, Ser. No. 027,099 entitled Photographic FilmUnit for Diffusion Transfer Processing, filed on Apr. I3, 1970, byHarold E. Cole. Briefly, film unit 8 is of the preferred composite orintegral type and includes a photosensitive sheet 12 having an imagerecording section and a process sheet 14 to facilitate applying fluid tothe image recording section.

The sheets l2, 14 are supplied before exposure and remain afterprocessing as aprecut and laminated sandwich substantially in the formillustrated. More specifically, the photosensitive sheet 12 comprises atransparent support having thereon the following layers in sequence: animage-receiving or recording layer, an opaque reflecting layer, and atleast one, and preferably three, silver halide emulsion layers havingassociated therewith a dye image-producing material. The process sheet14 is formed of a transparent material, e.g., cellulose triacetate filmbase, and permits exposure of the photosensitive sheet from the top sideof the unit (the side illustrated in FIG. 1). The photosensitive andprocess sheets 12, 14 respectively are preferably, although notnecessarily, rectangular and coextensive with one another and aremaintained in registered or superposed facing relationship either bydirect edge seals or by adhesive connections between the sheets andspacing members positioned along the two edges and the trailing end ofthe unit. a

The rupturable pod used in the film unit may be selected from any ofseveraltypes and generally comprises a rectangular blank 16 .of avapor-impervious material that is folded along a medial line 18 and issecurely sealed or closed along its sides 20. The free ends of blank 16opposite the medial fold 18 are in register and provided alongsubstantially their entire length with a rupturable seal 22 adapted torelease processing fluid 11 supplied in pod l0upon the application ofcompressive pressure generated by passing the pod betweeen a pair ofjuxtaposed pressure-applying members such as rollers 24 (FIGS. 4 and 5)as might be found in a camera. The pod 1 0 is attached to or cooperateswith a leading end of film unit 8 in any suitable manner for dischargingits fluid contents 11 between the photosensitive and process sheets l2,14 respectively, and for this purpose may be provided with a flatteneddischarge mouth inserted into a space or slot provided between thephotosensitive and process sheets at the leading end of the unit. Afterexposure of film unit 8 through process sheet 14 on the top side, theprocessing fluid 11 containing an opacifler is released from pod l0 andspread in a layer over at least a predetermined exposure frame ofphotosensitive sheet 12 by passing the entire unit between thepressure-applying rollers 24. The thickness of the fluid layer isprecisely controlled by engageable end rims 25 on rollers 24 which holdthe rollers apart the required distance. Since the negativephotosensitive portion of film unit 8 is surrounded by opaque materialto renderit insensitive to light, the unit can be removed from thecamera during development. The processing fluid 11 then diffuses intophotosensitive sheet 12 to either effect or initiate imagewisedevelopment of the silver halide emulsion layers. imagewisedistributions of diffusible dye image-providing material which iscontained in each silver halide emulsion layer or in a layer contiguousthereto, are formed as a function of the-imagewise exposure of eachsilver halide emulsion layer. At least a portion of the imagewisedistribution of diffusible dye image-providing material is diffused tothe imagereceiving layer to provide a positive dye image. Whenthe-positive image is viewed through the transparent support layer ofthe photosensitive sheet, it will be a right-reading image on the opaquereflecting layer background. The image-receiving layer does not have tobe stripped away from the rest of the film unit and no timing ofdevelopment is required.

The processing fluid trap or fluid receiving structure 6 of thisinvention is provided at thetrailing end of film unit 8 for collectingand confining any excess processing fluid 11 (FIGS. 4-15) and hencepreventing the fluid from contaminating the camera apparatus or theuser. Accordingly, as best seen in FIG. 2, the trailing ends of thephotosensitive and process sheets 12, 14 respectively are provided withone or more openings 26, 28 respectively extending therethrough, and aninflatable bladder 30 is sandwiched or interposed between the sheet endsin register with openings 26, 28 therein. The bladder 30 comprises arectangular blank of any suitable strong, pliable material such aspolyethylene or the like that is inert to processing fluid. The freeends 32 of the blank are positioned in register and are secured by anysuitable adhesive to the photosensitive and process sheetsl2, 14respectively. When the sides 34 of bladder 30 are sealed together by anysuitable means, a pocket is formed for receiving excess processing fluid11 fed therein through an open mouth 36 formed between the free ends ofthe bladder. The openings 26, 28 permit room'for bladder 30 to expandforming an increased internal void for processing fluid forced therein.To facilitate fluid entry into bladder 30, fluid back pressure isreduced by providing vent holes or slots 37 through which air can passbut fluid cannot. Normally, fluid back pressure should not be present inbladder 30 since the bladder in its normal flattened condition as seenin FIG. 3 is free of air. However, it is possible that air may beintroduced into the bladder along with fluid 11. To provide additionalroom for expansion, a spacer element 38 of any suitable material such asplastic or cardboard having one or more notches or openings 40 issecured by any suitable adhesive or the like to one or both of the outersurfaces of photosensitive and process sheets l2, 14 respectively inregister with bladder 30 and openings 26, 28. Although one of the sheetsl2, 14 has a plurality of openings 26 forming strengthening ribs 42therebetween, a single unitary opening may be preferable since it wouldprovide greater room for bladder expansion. Although the openings 26 aregenerally of a rectangular configuration, they may be of any othersuitable shape. The spacer 38 may also be provided with ribs 44preferably spaced out of alignment with ribs 42 in photosensitive sheet12 to facilitate lateral spreading of the fluid within the bladder.Although spacer 38 is shown as a rectangular member having openings 40therein, one of the walls 46 of spacer-38 may be omitted to form acomb-shaped spacer 47 having a plurality of fingers 49 provided withbeveled ends (FIG. 6).

Since the expandable bladder 30 is soft and pliable, excess processingfluid 11 introduced therein causes the bladder to expand as best seen inFIG. 5 and extend into and/or through the spacer openings 40 andopenings 26, 28 in the photosensitive and process sheets l2, 14respectively. To prevent inadvertent rupture of the expanded bladder,and to provide a flat, stiff, substantially non-crushable surface ontowhich data may be recorded, a stiff elongated shell-like cover 48 ofsubstantially U-shaped corss section is provided externally of thebladder and which may be slipped over the ends of the sheets l2, l4 andspacer 38. The cover 48 is made of any suitable substantially stiffmaterial such as plastic and is preferably held in place byultrasonically sealing the sides 50'of cover 48 to the photosensitiveand process sheets l2, l4 and spacer 38, or by any other suitablesecuring means. Since cover 48 has a thickness that is greater than thethickness of the laminated sheets l2, 14, at least one of the top orbottom sides 50 of the cover is provided with an inclined ramp 52 forspreading rollers 24 and facilitating movement of the cover through therollers. The cover is further provided with air vents 51 through whichair from bladder 30 may escape. The sides 50 of cover 48 not onlyprovide a rigid, preferably lined surface onto which data may berecorded, but in addition prevent rollers 24 from pressing on the filledbladder 30 causing fluid 11 in the trap to flow back between thephotosensitive and process sheets l2, 14 respectively and deleteriouslyaffect the processing action.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toa preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention as described hereinabove.

I claim:

I. A self-processing photographic film unit including an image-recordingportion, means for applying a fluent processing composition to theimage-recording portion, and means for receiving excess processingcomposition including a bladder, and means outside the bladder forprotecting the bladder against externally applied compressive forces.

2. A self-processing photographic film unit according to claim 1 whereinthe means outside the bladder includes a skeletal structure.

3. A self-processing photographic film unit according to claim 2 whereinthe skeletal structure is formed in part by an end portion of theimage-recording portion which extends into the receiving means, said endportion having at least one aperture therein.

4. A self-processing photographic film unit according to claim 3 whereina frame-like element is provided at the side of said end-portion remotefrom the bladder.

5. A self-processing photographic film unit according to claim 4 whereinthe frame-like element is of comb form and that the spine of thecomb-form element is at the trailing end of the unit and the teethmembers of the comb-form element are directed towards theimage-recording regions, and wherein the free ends of the teeth membershave inclined surfaces to assist in parting pressure-applying memberused in the initiation of processing.

6. A self-processing photographic film unit according to claim 1 whereina cover is provided over the exterior of the means outside the bladderfor protecting the bladder.

7. A self-processing photographic film unit according to claim 6 whereinthe cover is formed of stiff material and is capable of acceptingwriting on an exterior surface.

8. A self-processing photographic film unit according to claim 6 whereinthe cover is provided with vents allowing escape of air.

9. A self-processing photographic film unit according to claim 1 whereinthe 'bladder has vent means which allows the escape of gas but not thepassage of processing composition.

10. A self-processing photographic film unit according to claim 1wherein the image-recording portion includes a photosensitive elementand a process sheet, and the bladder is formed of a generallyrectangular sheet of pliable material folded about its middle and withthe sides contiguous with the fold being sealed and one of the freeedges of the sheet being secured to the process sheet of theimage-recording portion and the other of the free edges being secured tothe photosensitive element of the image-recording element.

2. A self-processing photographic film unit according to claim 1 whereinthe means outside the bladder includes a skeletal structure.
 3. Aself-processing photographic film unit according to claim 2 wherein theskeletal structure is formed in part by an end portion of theimage-recording portion which extends into the receiving means, said endportIon having at least one aperture therein.
 4. A self-processingphotographic film unit according to claim 3 wherein a frame-like elementis provided at the side of said end-portion remote from the bladder. 5.A self-processing photographic film unit according to claim 4 whereinthe frame-like element is of comb form and that the spine of thecomb-form element is at the trailing end of the unit and the teethmembers of the comb-form element are directed towards theimage-recording regions, and wherein the free ends of the teeth membershave inclined surfaces to assist in parting pressure-applying memberused in the initiation of processing.
 6. A self-processing photographicfilm unit according to claim 1 wherein a cover is provided over theexterior of the means outside the bladder for protecting the bladder. 7.A self-processing photographic film unit according to claim 6 whereinthe cover is formed of stiff material and is capable of acceptingwriting on an exterior surface.
 8. A self-processing photographic filmunit according to claim 6 wherein the cover is provided with ventsallowing escape of air.
 9. A self-processing photographic film unitaccording to claim 1 wherein the bladder has vent means which allows theescape of gas but not the passage of processing composition.
 10. Aself-processing photographic film unit according to claim 1 wherein theimage-recording portion includes a photosensitive element and a processsheet, and the bladder is formed of a generally rectangular sheet ofpliable material folded about its middle and with the sides contiguouswith the fold being sealed and one of the free edges of the sheet beingsecured to the process sheet of the image-recording portion and theother of the free edges being secured to the photosensitive element ofthe image-recording element.